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Bellco CU showcases DIY ways to give cash
The formula for grabbing attention on Pinterest seems to be posting eye-catching images of things people might like to do. Bellco Credit Union has executed that formula to perfection with a board on “Creative Ways to Give Money,” which has been repinned more than 9,000 times.
Bellco CU’s social media team spent two months monitoring popular pins and concluded that do-it-yourself projects and holiday-themed content might be a winning combination, says Julie Wagoner, social media specialist for the $2.6 billion Greenwood Village, Colo., credit union with 225,000 members.
“We thought it would be a good idea to showcase DIY gifts that our users could create, so we asked our colleagues to see what people wanted as a gift, and the answer was always the same: money,” Wagoner says. “This revelation sparked the idea to feature DIY ways to give money as a gift.”
Bellco CU’s Pinterest board features photos of 100 ideas: You can frame cash, freeze it, make it into a money lei, fold it into the letters of the recipient’s name, make bride and groom paper dolls, or create a Christmas ornament. Bellco CU has also used this content on its other social media channels, which include Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Yelp, Google+ and YouTube.
Pinterest is a good fit for the credit union’s social media strategy, Wagoner says. “In addition to creating awareness for the Bellco brand and our involvement in the community, Pinterest has allowed us to expand our reach and provide content that educates and engages our followers.”
Wagoner works with a social media team dedicated to developing content and responding to member service issues. This team is part of the marketing department, but also works closely with other departments. “A broad following is important to us, but we are more interested in building lasting relationships online with our members, non-members, other credit unions, and community partners,” she adds.
Karen Bankston is a long-time contributor to Credit Union Management and writes about credit unions, membership growth, marketing, operations and technology. She is the proprietor of Precision Prose, Stoughton, Wis.
